Apr 20, 2011

If you only read one movie tagline this summer...

People often forget that a lot of advertising work goes into promoting movies. This is not only the slick production of the trailer but also the voice-over and the copy. This comes into its sharpest focus in the movie tagline.

Below I have compiled a list of what I think are the top ten movie taglines within my lifetime (the last 30 odd years).

MY TOP 10 MOVIE TAGLINES (SINCE 1976)

1. Alien (1979)

"In space, no one can hear you scream."

2. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

"The longer you wait, the harder it gets."

3. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

"Does for rock and roll what 'The Sound of Music' did for hills..."

4. The Big Lebowski (1998)

"Her life was in their hands. Now her toe is in the mail."

5. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

"One man's struggle to take it easy."

6. Finding Nemo (2003)

"There are 3.7 trillion fish in the ocean. They're looking for one."

7. Erin Brockovich (2000)

"She brought a small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees."

8. There's Something About Mary (1998)

"Love is in the hair."

9. Schindler's List (1993)

"The list is life."

10. Cool Runnings (1993)

"One dream. Four Jamaicans. Twenty below zero."

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Alien 3 (1992) - "The bitch is back."

Edward Scissorhands (1990) - "His story will touch you, even though he can't."